Eye-on-Retail Daily Tipsheet Archives

Best Buy adds to C-suite with new HR chief by Nick Halter at Minneapolis/St.Paul Business Journal. “The chief human resources officer title was previously held by Shari Ballard. Ballard had been serving a dual role as HR chief and president of U.S. retail. She will continue in the latter position.”Read more

Target Canada reaches deal with former landlords by Marina Strauss at Globe & Mail. “Lou Brzezinski, a lawyer at Blaney McMurtry LLP who represented some of the big suppliers, said the recovery is more favourable to the unsecured creditors than almost all other ones in such corporate failures.”Read more

Amazon chooses San Diego for second brick-and-mortar bookstore by John Cook at GeekWire. “Amazon.com is poised to open its second location, choosing the Westfield University Towne Center Mall in San Diego…The new store will be located near a Tesla and Apple store at the mall.”Read more

Why J.C. Penney’s CEO Isn’t Closing More Stores by Phil Wahba at Fortune. “Ellison says he used to also think Penney needed far fewer stores, but he’s changed his mind…By the time back-to-school rolls around, all Penney stores will be equipped to let shoppers pick up online orders the same day.”Read more

NY Times Q&A with Petco President/Dick’s Ex-Chief Merchant by Patricia R. Olsen. “About a third of employees bring their pets to work. I bring my French bulldogs Gerti and Leo with me about three days a week. The animals become part of our routine. We think it adds to the environment, and it’s a definite draw in recruiting.”Read more

**A message from Black Flag® Brand: When the flag flies, pests die. The Black Flag® indoor/outdoor pest arsenal arms homeowners in the battle against invading bugs. Offering quick, decisive formulas that act fast and never back down, Black Flag insect and rodent controls get the job done, and take no prisoners. It’s time to Let It Fly.Check out our videos | Visit us on Facebook

Postmates Has Hired Qatalyst, the Silicon Valley Bank That Helps Companies Get Sold by Jason Del Rey at Recode. “Qatalyst Partners, has approached several larger companies to gauge their interest in Postmates. It is not clear which specific companies were pitched…”Read more

This Canadian ceramic artist is wowing Saks and other high-end retailers around the world by Stephanie Matteis at CBC. “Filmmaker Guillaume Alcaraz captured the process for her artistic creations in this short documentary from Exhibitionists, taking viewers behind the scenes when big retailers like Saks, Holt Renfrew, and famed Japanese restaurateur Nobu came calling.”See the video / Read more

Dick’s Kicks Off Its Olympics Marketing With New Spot by Adrianne Pasquarelli at Ad Age. “The spot depicts athletes at various difficult physical and emotional moments of their training. A voiceover asks, “Why are you doing this to yourself?”See the spot / Read more

Amazon China expands its selection to 10 million imported items by Frank Tong at Internet Retailer. “Amazon said it had added more than 2 million products in February…”Read more

Woolworths’ new boss kept out of Masters exit by Catie Low at Sydney Morning Herald. “The decision to quarantine the new chief executive from the hardware business and the protracted negotiations to buy out the 33.3 per cent Lowe’s stake in the Masters chain has been welcomed by analysts, who see it as a sign of Woolworths’ commitment to get the supermarkets humming again.”Read more